101 Critical Days of Summer: Road rage big concern for increased summertime driving

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David Pike
  • 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  "Road rage" is a term believed to have originated in the United States. In its broadest sense, it is any display of aggression by a driver. However, the term is often used to refer to the more extreme acts of aggression, such as a physical assault, that occur as a direct result of a disagreement between drivers. 

The response to a stressful situation may often be anger. When people are confronted by a frustrating situation they often resort to aggression. This could be no more than verbal abuse. However, there are circumstances where people may resort to physical violence. 

How to avoid "road rage"
· Follow general recommendations to avoid stress and fatigue. 

· Try to disassociate yourself from problems that have no bearing on the journey. 

· Never assume an aggressive act was intended as such. Everyone makes mistakes, so don't bite back. 

· Take an example from studies of animal behavior in the wild. The dominant animal in a group will rarely get involved in petty fights and disagreements. Although confident in his ability to defeat any opponent, there is always the risk of injury. 

· Draw reassurance from the fact that if you feel someone is driving like an idiot, everyone else does also. 

Aggressive drivers: Who are they?
· These high-risk drivers climb into the anonymity of an automobile and take out their frustrations on anybody at any time. 

· For them, frustration levels are high and level of concern for fellow motorists is low. 

· They run stop signs and red lights, speed, tailgate, weave in and out of traffic, pass on the right, make improper and unsafe lane changes, make hand and facial gestures, scream, honk and flash their lights. 

· They drive at speeds far in excess of the norm which causes them to: follow too closely, change lanes frequently and abruptly without notice (signals), pass on the shoulder or unpaved portions of the roadway and leer at or threaten - verbally or through gestures - motorists who are thoughtless enough to be in front of them. 

What to do if confronted with an aggressive driver.
· Make every attempt to get out of their way. 

· Put pride in the back seat. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in the travel lane. 

· Wear a seat belt. It will keep drivers and passengers restrained in case the need to make an abrupt driving maneuver arises and it will protect in the event of a crash.
· Avoid eye contact. 

· Ignore gestures and refuse to return them. 

· Report aggressive drivers to the appropriate authorities by providing a vehicle description, license number, location and which direction of travel. 

Safety concerns
· If an aggressive driver is involved in a crash farther down the road, stop a safe distance from the crash scene, wait for the police to arrive and report the driving behavior that was witnessed. 

· When heckled by another driver, try not to react. Don't be tempted to accelerate, brake or swerve suddenly. 

· If a driver continues heckling or following too closely, drive to the nearest police station or busy place to get help. 

· In town, lock the car doors and keep the windows and sunroof only partly open.
· When stopped in traffic, leave enough space to pull out from behind the car in front of you. 

· If someone tries to get into the car, attract attention by sounding the horn or a personal alarm. 

· Do not be tempted to start a fight and do not be tempted to carry any sort of weapon. It may only provoke a potential assailant and could end up in their hands. 

(Information courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety)